Poland’s government has announced intentions to replace more than 50 ambassadors who were appointed during the former Law and Justice (PiS) administration.
This move has elicited a negative response from President Andrzej Duda, who is constitutionally tasked with appointing and dismissing ambassadors. The clash represents the latest in a series of conflicts between the president and the ruling coalition that took power in December.
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It occurred just a day after Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk displayed unity by jointly visiting the White House to meet Joe Biden. On Thursday afternoon, the foreign ministry revealed that its head, Radosław Sikorski, had „decided to end the missions of over 50 ambassadors„, constituting more than half of Poland’s total ambassadors.
„The government, with constitutional responsibility for foreign policy, believes that the necessary rotation of Polish representatives abroad will lead to a more professional handling of the challenging tasks facing Polish foreign policy today” – the ministry stated.
Under Poland’s constitution, foreign policy falls under the government’s purview. However, the constitution also specifies that ambassadors are appointed and dismissed by the president. Hence, any such decisions would necessitate President Duda’s approval.
Radosław Sikorski told radio broadcastert RMF FM that such decisions would be taken „in dialogue” with the president and „in a civilised manner„, without specifying the list of ambassadors to be replaced. The foreign ministry’s announcement was rapidly met with disapproval from President Duda and his cabinet.
Duda’s chief of staff, Marcin Mastalerek, expressed disappointment that the government sought to act in this manner just one day after Duda and Tusk jointly visited the White House as a display of unity.
„Yesterday, Poland showcased cooperation in security and international matters,” Mastalerek told Polsat. „It is wholly perplexing that the prime minister acts so unilaterally a day after such a successful visit” – he wrote on X.
Image: Marek Borawski X @KPRM_CIR z czerwca 2023
Author: Sébastien Meuwissen
